Corbett gets more time on health care exchange

Friday is no longer a deadline for Gov. Tom Corbett to tell the federal government whether Pennsylvania will be setting up a health insurance market under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told governors Thursday evening that they now have until Dec. 14 to declare their intentions.

Corbett administration officials say they’ve put off development of the online exchange because too many questions about its cost and other operational details remain unanswered by the federal government.

The exchanges will allow households and small businesses to buy a private health plan, and many will get government help paying their premiums. States can opt to have theirs run by the federal government or join in a partnership with the federal government.